Shutterstock is one of the world's largest libraries of stock images, videos, and music. Access over 400 million royalty-free assets for commercial use. Find high-quality photos, illustrations, vectors, and 4K video clips. Advanced AI search helps you find exactly what you need. Shutterstock offers flexible plans from on-demand credits to enterprise subscriptions. Includes AI image generation and editing tools.

Data compiled by Toolradar Pricing checked Sep 30, 2026 · How we evaluate

Source shutterstock.com

Ratings Across the Web

4.4 (1,196 reviews)

Shutterstock holds an aggregate rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 1,196 reviews across G2, last checked March 19, 2026.

G2 1,196 reviews

4.4/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Stock photography
Video clips
Music library
AI image generation
Editorial content
Enterprise licensing

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Sep 30, 2026. Source: shutterstock.com, read Sep 30, 2026

Shutterstock plans and prices, checked September 2026
Plan	Price	Details
On-demand	$49	5 images Never expires Standard license
Subscription	$29/month	10 images/month Standard license Rollover unused

Calculate your cost View full pricing

Is Shutterstock worth the price?

Fair value

Shutterstock's pricing is on the expensive side for individual users, especially the On-demand option at $49 for just 5 images.

The Subscription at $29/month for 10 images offers better value with rollover, but still higher than some competitors. This pricing is best for small businesses or individuals with consistent, but not high-volume, image needs.

Full Shutterstock pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

How Shutterstock's pricing compares

At $29/mo, billed monthly, Shutterstock is mid-range of its 5 comparable direct competitors ($9 to $29/mo across the set).

$10

$10

$12.99

Shutterstock

$29

Designs.ai

$29

Entry paid plan, monthly price, billed monthly. Pricing checked Sep 30, 2026.

Shutterstock by the numbers

Toolradar data: Shutterstock's entry paid plan ($29/mo, billed monthly) ranks #20 of 21 (joint) for price among the Stock Assets tools with a verified entry price and no stated unit, where the median is $10/mo. It is listed as an alternative to 27 other tools on Toolradar, ranking #2 of 72 in Stock Assets. As of Nov 2026.

Shutterstock compared with 72 Stock Assets tools on Toolradar, as of Nov 2026
Metric	Shutterstock	Peer median	Position (1 is best)
Entry paid plan	$29/mo, billed monthly	$10/mo	#20 of 21 (joint) tools with no stated price unit, verified price
Free plan	No	64% have one	n/a
Listed as an alternative to	27 tools	3	#2 of 72
User rating	4.4/5 (across the web, 1,196 ratings)	4.3/5	#14 of 37 (joint) tools with 20+ reviews
Compare-page visits, last 30 days	81 visits	30	#3 of 40 tools with 20+ compare-page visits

Visitors most often compare Shutterstock with Unsplash (last 30 days, Nov 2026).

Listed as an alternative to: #2 on 2026-10-16 to #2 on 2026-11-02 (rank among 72 tools, 1 is best).

Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. A lower entry price ranks higher; prices are read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis. All Stock Assets data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source.

Cite this: Toolradar, “Shutterstock by the numbers”, Nov 2026.

Reviews

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4.4/5

Across 1,196 verified user reviews on G2

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Best Shutterstock Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

Canva Freemium

Design anything, for anyone, with millions of templates

4.7

Crello Freemium

Create stunning social media posts, ads, and marketing materials

4.0

PhotoRoom Freemium

AI photo editing for product images

4.4

Designs.ai Freemium

AI-powered creative suite for branding and marketing

1.9

Clipdrop Paid

AI-powered image editing and generation tools

See all graphic design tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Shutterstock vs Canva Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Shutterstock vs Crello Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Shutterstock vs PhotoRoom Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

Explore More

Shutterstock FAQ

How does Shutterstock support graphic design workflows?

Shutterstock provides access to over 400 million royalty-free assets including high-quality photos, illustrations, and vectors, which are essential for graphic design projects. It also offers AI image generation and editing tools to further enhance creative work.

How does Shutterstock compare to Canva for accessing stock assets?

Shutterstock offers a massive library of over 400 million royalty-free stock images, videos, and music, emphasizing high-quality content and flexible licensing. While Canva also provides design tools, Shutterstock's primary focus is on its extensive and diverse collection of stock assets.

What are the main trade-offs when choosing Shutterstock?

A primary trade-off for Shutterstock users is that it can be expensive for heavy use, and its pricing structure is noted as complex. Additionally, some common images within its vast library may be perceived as overused due to their widespread availability.

Which teams would benefit most from using Shutterstock?

Teams involved in graphic design, marketing, and content creation would benefit from Shutterstock's extensive library of stock images, videos, and music. Its high-quality content and flexible licensing options support diverse commercial use cases.

How is Shutterstock priced?

Shutterstock is a paid product and does not include a permanently free tier. It offers flexible pricing plans ranging from on-demand credits for individual asset purchases to comprehensive enterprise subscriptions for larger organizations.

Can Shutterstock generate new images using AI?

Yes, Shutterstock includes AI image generation capabilities as part of its features. This allows users to create new visual content in addition to accessing its existing library of stock assets.

Does Shutterstock offer editorial content?

Yes, Shutterstock provides editorial content in addition to its commercial stock assets. This expands its utility for users who require images for news, documentary, or other non-commercial editorial purposes.

How does Shutterstock pricing compare with other Stock Assets tools?

Shutterstock's entry paid plan ($29/mo, billed monthly) ranks #20 of 21 (joint) for price among the Stock Assets tools with a verified entry price and no stated unit, where the median is $10/mo. Prices are read on each vendor's own pricing page and compared only with tools priced on the same basis. Source: Toolradar, Nov 2026.

Source: shutterstock.com

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